A SANDWELL teacher who alleged she was sexually harassed while working for the council had her claim struck out at a Birmingham Employment Tribunal hearing.

Sharon Robinson, of Wednesbury, who did not attend the tribunal preliminary hearing, had alleged in statements that she had been sexually harassed by a teacher.

She had sought approval to seek compensation for sexual harassment and for unfair dismissal while engaged on short-term contracts as a learning support assistant.

After hearing objections from Maria Price, representing the council, on the grounds that the claims had been made beyond the tribunal's threemonth deadline, tribunal chairman Paul Gilroy struck out the claim for sexual harassment.

But he allowed Miss Robinson to go ahead with her claim for unfair dismissal at a full hearing later this year.

A claim has to be registered with the tribunal within three months of the alleged incident. Claims made outside the deadline are allowed only in special circumstances.

Details about the alleged sexual harassment claim were not revealed at the brief hearing and neither was Miss Robinson's full address.

The GMB union, of which Miss Robinson had been a member, had handled her claims, it was said.

A union spokesman told the tribunal: "Details of her allegation were despatched to the chairman of the school governors but by then Miss Robinson was no longer a union member because her membership had expired."